Waiter was very attentive, constantly filling my water glass (which was good because I was thirsty). Hubby and I split a 10" pizza and found it to be plenty. They have some great pizza combos and some great looking salads. Food came promptly and was delicious. I do wish there were some more salad options, every salad had something that was taboo during pregnancy. With tax and tip we spent $16. I wish they had parking. read more

The place for people who like to put fun or weird things on their pizza. Perfect for take-out. Recommend: Anything with potatoes, bacon, garlic, thyme... Don't recommend: Mac 'n cheese za. read more

Never ever been disappointed. Always very friendly waiters (last night we told them we were running a little late to catch a movie down the street, and he offered to expedite our orders - fantastic!) Most of their pizzas are vegetarian and they support a lot of local farms and good sources overall. And they don't even brag about being super-organic-local-green. My pizza last night - pear, caramelized onions, walnuts, cranberries. Their pizzas are a good size for one big meal, but you'll probably find yourself taking home 3-4 slices if you get a salad before. They're decorated with pig figurines/ornaments. Everywhere. It's adorable. read more

Love their pizzas! My husband and I have very difference tastes in toppings so these pizzas as perfectly sized and a good price so that we can each get our own. Customer service is awesome too. Had a mixup with our order recently and the owner not only fixed it fast, but also invited us back with a gift certificate! I appreciate all the effort that went into the solution. We will be back for sure. read more

EXCELLENT tasting pizza!! I have to admit, this may be the one good reason to go to Arlington. Very creative pizzas accent the menu. I would even say it's better than PICCO... (Except Picco has a wide range of alcohol... Hmmm tough call) read more

Ah, Za. In a part of the country with a short growing season and a lack of Green-totalitarianism, I was pleasantly surprised to find a place that specializes in organic, locally-grown ingredients on top of lovingly prepared pizza. This was the favorite 'za place of my friend that took me here, nestled away in Arlington, where I was pleased to see such a variety and quality of eating establishments away from the center of Boston. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 6:30PM to a decently-sized line spilling out of the restaurant. Fortunately, it was an easy wait, as the host offered us the drink menu and a spot on a bench near the kitchen, sheltered from the near-freezing temperatures outside. We were seated after about a 20 minute wait. Great service. Appetizer: 1. A Mexican salad of sorts, composed of Haas avocados, tomatoes, black beans, red onions, and cilantro, topped with sour cream and "tortilla crunchies", and formed in a ring-mold. Fresh ingredients, balanced nicely... sort of like a really chunky guacamole; not the most original idea, but pulled-off well. The 'za: 1. This was a real treat: black mission figs, sweet onion, Gorgonzola, Verrill Farm's parsley, and Italian white truffle oil. We asked them to add smoked bacon to it... I mean, pork makes everything better, right? The crust was thin-crust, but had enough body to be a real crust, and not a cracker, like some other "thin-crusts" tend to be. It's too bad this is one of their "Chalkboard Specials"; I'd be tempted to order it again every time I'm in town. Dessert: 1. Honey lavender creme brulee: just like it sounds. Sometimes lavender-containing dishes honestly tend to have too much lavender, but this was properly balanced and oh-so-tasty! I never expected a place like this in a Boston suburb. I'll definitely be back. read more

Nice dinner here tonight. Despite what is written in some earlier reviews, they DO have gluten free crust. I think it's the same crust as used by MOD Pizza (national chain..though none in Boston). All in all a good meal. My only complaint was that the restaurant was too warm for my liking. read more

We stopped in here one night after catching a movie. This is a popular spot, and it was busy. The staff did a great job and were very friendly. We enjoyed the salad and pizza we ordered. This is a great place to bring the kiddos. The personal sized pizzas means everyone can get what they want. read more

I love Za's creative pizzas. The medium weight crust is an interesting change from the cracker-ish pizzas that dominate the gourmet pizza scene. The pizzas aren't drowning in EVOO like at Figs, and are more filling than at Emma's. Their salads (esp the beet salad) are wonderful. You'd pay much more $ for salads of that quality at most places. Overall, it's a great bargain, too! ===== Editing to say....I completely agree with the reviewer below that for 2 people, ordering 2 salads and 1 pizza is perfect!! The pizzas don't look that big, but since they are thicker, splitting one works out quite nicely. read more

Not your average pizza! I've fallen in love with this place and go at least once a month. After living off of Santarpios for a few years, this place is such a drastic difference. - The place is small but can accommodate a party of any size. They have large booths and tables that overlook Mass. Ave. - The wine/beer selection isn't big but you'll most likely find something you like. - The pizzas (if you can call them that) are strange and interesting but really yummy. If you're a picky eater, well you might want to look elsewhere. If you like almost anything for food definitely try this place. Where else will you find fig or pear or mac n' cheese on a pizza. They have crazy concoctions but they are yummy. I go with a work crew once a month and everyone has their favorite! - The salads are also quite yummy. - Slightly on the higher priced side (for a pizza place anyway), you do get good value for your food. Definitely try ZA if you're in the mood for a change. You won't be disappointed. read more

Remember people, go in expecting something different, not your typical shitty greek "pizza" served in the Boston area. If your name is Sully, just turn around, this isn't the place for you. I'm tired of people criticising places for being exactly what they strive to be. In the summer, Za's fig pizza blows Fig Restaurant's Fig Pizza out of the water. Many of the other selections are also good, but I really miss the fig! My issues with this place is that in the winter the menu gets a bit homogenous and if you catch the "B" staff, the service isn't quite as attentive or superb. My coworkers and I frequently go here for lunch and get away for about $12 a piece, sharing everything family style. read more

They have some nice topping options like a special with pickles on it. It's actually really good on a pizza. But... The crust is the biggest downfall. It's the same strange tasting crust you get at your local greek pizza place. If you're going to put fancy toppings and charge a ton the crust better be good. The salads are good too, but again a bit over priced. read more

East Arlington has changed a ton in the last years, all for the better. We found Za on Yelp and gave it a try before a movie at the Capital Theater. Yes, Pizza and Salad but so many interesting choices for both. We tried the special salad of roasted butternut squash, apples, goat cheese and walnuts. OK, we wondered how do you serve a squash salad. It came out as a terrine about 4" tall. It was fantastic and plenty for us. (Shared by 2) We then split a 10" pizza of chorizo and peppers which was excellent and plenty of food for 2 following the salad. All fresh ingredients. Excellent service and definitely a return visit is in the plans. read more

How have I not reviewed this place yet? I have come here multiple times with multiple people and everyone agrees...it is excellent! The pizza is awesome, diverse, affordable and filling. The salads are quite good as well and the deserts are fantastic. All and all very affordable. Also, the staff is quite friendly and I have always enjoyed my interactions with them. This establishment is excellent for all occasions be it date night, dinner with friends or family, or even if you want your kids to eat good pizza instead of chuck e cheese. I brought my girlfriend here, and she is a bit of a pizza snob (she is from New Jersey and NYC) and this is one of her favorite spots for pizza...and mine too! read more

I love this place, not only for the pizza and salad, but for the staff. They are so friendly. If the owner is in, he visits everyone's tables in an unobtrusive way... The pizza is amazing...crispy crust and fresh toppings. The salads are unbelievable too. I don't know how many times I think I've declared a new favorite one. Prices are fair and the presentation of the salads is beautiful. I also love that they buy local. For those who don't like the more "creative" pizzas, you can always design your own with traditional toppings. They've even been great when we brought toddlers and asked for a plain pizza, with no cheese on one half. No problem! read more

I went here for lunch the other day - I was kind of unimpressed. For one cup of salad and one 10" pizza it was $26. I'm sorry, did the owner FORGET that they are in Arlington Center, and not the Back Bay?? However, the food was good. My friend and I split the mixed greens salad with the dicon puree and cranberries plus a lot of other stuff. It was interesting. We then split the portobello mushroom pizza that had garlic, tomatoes and feta cheese. that was good as well, but a little on the soggy side for being "cooked to order". I guess my biggest complaint is that their menu items have about a billion ingredients per dish - it is kind of overkill. Like the chef couldn't decide so he/she just decided to throw it all on. Waitstaff is superb. Location is good for lunch. Decor is nice except for all the ceramic pigs and shitty Thomas Kinkade paintings (weird, right?) read more

If they had a take-out place with modestly-priced larger-sized versions of the culinary delights they create at Za, they would probably dominate the metro Boston area. Friendly manager, interesting and delicious food, good beer selection, boisteriously intimate environment, and a bookshelf of piggies. Ya gotta love Za read more

The first thing you'll notice about Za is that it aims to be a step above the average corner store pizza shop. The interior is suited for having a more formal sit-down meal, but it's not to the point where you'd feel weird dining there alone. I went there on a Sunday afternoon, so the service was very good, since there were very few other people in there. The waitress explained any questions very well, and was attentive to small needs. Za also serves beer which is a nice perk as well. The pizzas themselves are fairly fancy, but not quite to the point where they're overdone. They feature common toppings, but tending to combine them with other interesting ingredients to make it a more unique meal. I had the Mac and Cheese pizza, which was pretty good, but I wish I had tried something more traditional for my first visit. I will definitely go back to try other options, as I left with a good impression of the place overall. read more

I really like this place. Its right down the street from my boyfriends house, so we go there often. Its a small little place with really great pizza. We went there last night, and there was a problem with my order, and the manager immediately came and talked to us and fixed it. My only problem with this place is the service from the servers themselves. The are mediocre and don't go above and beyond. Our server last night was M.I.A. for most of our meal. But the managers there are fantastic and always walking around the floor and greeting guests and such. all in all this place is a great choice for any pizza lover! read more

This is a great place and one I'm planning on going back to. In a nutshell it's a "gourmet" take on the stereotypical pizza that we all know and love. The menu is varied and fun... (first time I've seen butternut squash, leeks, and caramelized onions all on the same pizza), and it all works. The place serves soda and has a very impressive wine list at the same time interestingly enough; while we were there we were surrounded on one side by a hockey dad and his 3 young lads, and on the other we had a power businessman type sipping his wine glass (with the uber pretentious "hand palming" glass hold you should really only see in movies to boot). Pizza is universal though and that's probably why you get such a mishmash in a place like this. Anyways the place wasn't too pricey and the food was good and tasty... recommended! read more

Went to Za yesterday with my husband for date night. Really wanted to try this place for awhile, so glad we did. The food was so fresh and delicious and the service was excellent. Our server was attentive and personable. (wish I had gotten her name). It is a cozy little place and it is very clean. Can't wait to go back. . read more

I'm handing out five stars because the experience at Za was just that superlative. I used to live in Northern Italy and the dining experience here was equal to the best I had in Italy. Service was terrific, food could not have been better. I like the extensive use of local ingredients. The wine list is tiny but well curated. I only wish I could have tried the impressive dessert menu but I was too full. read more

Za - Cool T shirt for sale above the bar at Za. - Pizza Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Eating pizza at Za is a lot like driving a fancy Italian sports car. Sure, it roars and it has gull-wing doors but ultimately a Corvette will smoke it off the line for a lot less money. Za is one of my neighborhood pizza places. In my house there's usually a short lived conversation about ordering from somewhere else before settling on Za. Why am I perfectly OK with this? The Iceberg wedge salad; it's glorious. If you like fatty dressing and bacon bits, then this is the Platonic perfection of what a salad should be. As for the Pizza it is average. I find the slices and pie itself to be a little on the small side. The kitchen does make up for these smaller sized pizzas with its 'Chalkboard Specials.' These are the gourmet pies loaded with some inspired ingredients, like chorizo, dill pickles, garlic aioli, etc. Unfortunately, these chalkboard specials don't change that much. Or maybe we just keep going back to Za on the same day and miss the rotation. Still, if you're in the neighborhood, go to Za. You won't be disappointed by the pizza but might be a little let down by the reputation that precedes it. read more

Very original and refreshing food. If you're looking for something different this is a great place to go. I've been going there for lunch and most things I've tried, even the ones that don't sound good, such as strawberries on a pizza, I find that I do enjoy them. I have to say that I think the ingredients they use are very fresh and that make a big difference in the taste. The portion size is not that large so if you order just a salad you maybe left hungry. Ideally go with someone for lunch order a pizza and a salad and split it. read more

Ordered 2 pizzas, fig and corn chalkboard specials, took 45 minutes on a slow Monday night. Small portions & only average flavor for the price. Will not go again. read more

My husband craves their mashed potato salad and really any one of their pizzas... there are such amazing combinations and ingredients here. You definitely can't bring someone who's a plain pizza person or has a picky palate; although there are a lot of ingredients you can customize and add to a pizza, this is not your ordinary pizza experience. Wish they had a gluten free crust option. :-( read more

Order: Portabello Mushroom Pizza, Grilled Chicken Pizza, Chocolate Goat Cheesecake. The Protabello was amazing. Loaded with toppings in the perfect proportions. The caramelized onions were heavenly. I would have preferred raw garlic but it was great with cooked. The Chicken pizza was good, not amazing. It would have been a lot better if the chicken were not so dry. The Chocolate Goat Cake. The cake was great. I'm glad I had take out, because the cake was so rich and I was able to add vanilla ice cream, it was very potent. read more

Za is hands-down, my favorite pizza ever. It is the my and the boy's favorite go-to place for lunch. Every time we go in we are seated promptly by our favorite server and given the most gracious service we could ask for. The menu is small. For me, that's a plus. I hate making decisions from massive menus and their's is nice and limited. We aren't picky people, so we always find something delicious. All of the salads are wonderfully fresh and well seasoned, and the pizzas are perfect. The desserts are to die for; especially the goat cheese cheesecake. Normally we will split a salad, pizza, and dessert. This is a perfect amount of food for the two of us, though we don't eat as much as the average 'murrican. tl;dr- Try Za. Unless you are super picky and impossible to please, you will have fun. read more

Discovered this place about 5 months ago and We eat here at least once a week ! Fresh ingredients , friendly atmosphere and Consistent quality !! Glad we found this place !! read more

Love their tea and atmosphere. I usually sit next to a window cause I love watching people doing their daily activities or just walking by. read more

Za - Iced black tea - Pizza Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Four stars for the pleasant atmosphere with attentive service. But two stars for the flavorless pizza. Heavy application of parmesan and pepper helped the toppings, but the crust cannot redeemed. read more

Za is a good place for a casual meal. I was here with a large group of people and we ordered an assortment of pizzas including plain cheese, portabella mushroom, mac and cheese, meat lover, and others. They were all great! The staff was friendly and the manager came around twice to ask if everything was OK. The drink order was slow to come out, but overall this was a good experience. read more

I have enjoyed Za for many years. Tonight this changed. While I want to do my best to understand these are hard times it is not reasonable to serve a different product and call it the same. It appears to me Za is using pre made dough to fit into a to go box. Not crisp, no fresh, not good ingredients....not the same. Hope you get back to what you do well. For now, I will stay away. read more

MAC AND CHEESE PIZZA! WOW! This is the best pizza in Arlington, nice little quiet place with a great farm to table style menu. A lot of options for great pizza and salads, Never had dessert here as i don't usually have a sweet tooth. Service is good, sometimes a bit slow. read more

Za is our favorite eat-in-and-have-leftovers weekend restaurant. I love the specials with fruit if some sort (e.g., Fig and gorgonzola, peach and duck breast, etc), and my partner frequently adds their great sausage to one of them if it's not already meat-enabled. Neither of us are found of the idea of potatoes on pizza, but sometimes the ones with pureed squash are interesting. The salads are not too big for one person, but ample enough for two to share if you want to have room for pizza and dessert. The desserts usually include some variety of creme brulee, a pie-type item, and something chocolate. The beer specials can be interesting, and change weekly. Best time to go on the weekend is off-dining time (late lunch or early dinner). The do not take reservations, but you can call ahead to get on the waiting list if it's busy. Or just pick up for takeout. We go here a couple times a month if we can. read more

I've been meaning to try this place out for a while and it came to pass today, finally!! My friend and I decided to meet for lunch and, do to our time with work, had to meet at 11:30. I was pleased that they opened right on time. We were immediately greeted and our server was very kind and attentive--not overly attentive; I hate that--don't hover! Za has fresh ingredients from local farms which I LOVE LOVE LOVE! I ordered a crisp iceberg lettuce salad, like a wedge, went without the blue cheese and really liked it's simplicity and freshness. I always look around at what other peoples food looks like (yes, I'm that girl scoping your plate across the isle) Some ladies dining near had some different salads that looks amazing! I have to go back and try them. We created our own pizza and it was delicious. Black forest ham, roasted garlic and hot cherry peppers. Mmmm. We were able to share one pizza and were very satisfied. Tea, coffee, dessert...everything was really nice. I didn't love the dessert, a caramel cashew chocolate pie with fresh whipped cream. It was fine, but didn't love it. The cream seemed to be almost buttery, so I didn't love that bite. But I was able to rally, avoid the cream and enjoy the pie. Overall, great service, calming atmosphere, really good food! wonderful lunch scene. read more

Excellent service always. Cool salads. They have interesting beers on draft. I just can not say that I am in love with their pizza. The crust has no leavening but isn't crispy. It's kind of like a soggy pie crust. If you do go here, I'd recommend making your own pizza rather than getting one of the specials or signature pies. Their special pizzas tend to be adventurous, which might lead one to believe that they must be good. But sometimes they are just wierd. My girlfriend really liked the sweet potato special. I think the owner should look into changing the crust recipe. I think that would make everything better and might make some of the specials work. read more

Amazing. The food. The people. All of it. Loved every min of it. Going back very soon.

Fantastic Pizza and even better service. The sweet hostess made my day. Will be back.

We are so glad this place is just a block away from us. It's a great little gourmet pizza joint. A couple things make it work: 1. Ingredients. They are always fresh and high quality. 2. Expertise. You may look at the toppings on some of their pizza specials, and think, "Huh?" When they say they have a pizza with smoked salmon, capers and crema frescha, trust their judgement: they know what they're doing. Both the pizzas and the salads are unique creations you're unlikely to experience any place else. It's obvious that lot of thought and consideration goes into the menu. Highly recommended. read more